Consciousness Research
My studies of human consciousness began with studying the near death experience. From them as well as the enormous body of scientific research done by my fellow scientists, I learned:
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My journey went from NDE studies naturally to studying meditation which accesses the same realm of reality as perceived during the NDE and is just as transformative. I also explored and published papers in peer reviewed journals on other forms of transformation including spiritual healing and spiritual sight. Spiritual sight is the spiritual and healing applications of controlled remote viewing, ironically developed by the United States Department of Defense but based on ancient Tibetan and Jewish teachings. I will discuss that aspect of my consciousness research and the implications for healing therapies and meditative practices in subsequent pages. (For a full list and pdf's of my scientific papers and Curriculum Vitae)
WHAT IS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE?
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Near death experiences are simply the last final moments of life. They frequently occur to persons who are clinically dead and revive, sometimes hours after they are pronounced dead. From my medical training and as a scientist, I thought that the process of dying involved the extinction of consciousness. When we die, everything simply goes to nothingness, so I thought. The first scientific study that documented that when we die, we actually have an awakened consciousness was published in the American Heart Journal in 1966! |
The authors, Depasquelle and Phillips documented that the dying process is intensely spiritual and involves a transcendent awareness of ultimate reality. Raymond Moody, then in 1975, coined the term “near death experience” and outlined the characteristic qualities of the experience. Dr. Moody and Dr. Bruce Greyson of the University of Virginia then encouraged me to do the first prospective study of near death experiences and the first study of near death experiences in children. I did these at the University of Washington. All of the links to videos presented on this page are the result of my study at Seattle Children’s Hospital. This research was supervised by the Human Subjects Review Board and are of the highest ethical integrity.
Bruce Greyson has written that the challenge of neuroscience in the 21st century is to explain how consciousness can occur in a dying dysfunctional brain. This is why spiritual neuroscience is necessary. We need new understandings to explain the recent clinical findings which spring from the new technology of resuscitation of critically ill patients.
Bruce Greyson has written that the challenge of neuroscience in the 21st century is to explain how consciousness can occur in a dying dysfunctional brain. This is why spiritual neuroscience is necessary. We need new understandings to explain the recent clinical findings which spring from the new technology of resuscitation of critically ill patients.
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This was my first case of hearing a near death experience. I was at the time an overworked resident at Seattle Children’s Hospital and had never heard of a near death experience. I will never forget this patient, whom I knew was clinically dead, who after being resuscitated patted me on the hand and told me “You’ll see Dr. Morse, heaven is fun”! Here is what Krystal Mertzlock has to say today about Dr. Morse: "Nice to see you back. Love is a great test. When put in the harshest of conditions, sometimes only then can we see. I also teach meditation and have worked with the criminal and mental health population for over 15 yrs now. If I can be of assistance to your cause please let me know. You will always be favorite! Heaven was fun.."
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Here is my appearance on Oprah discussing the case.
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A very important piece of evidence that near death experiences are real is this extraordinary study done by the United States Navy. Naval pilots were experimented on to understand the maximum G forces that they can tolerate. In the process, they had near death experiences. One such pilot was Jeff Smitth PhD. After his NDE, he promptly left the military and got his PhD in psychology. He and I together developed a highly successful therapy for PTSD called TRACT, based on the wisdom he gained from his NDE.
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This patient was documented as having no oxygen to his brain for 30 minutes.
I did my original study at Seattle Children’s Hospital with the Harborview Hospital Social Worker Kim Clark Sharp.
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Each near death experience is unique. Here, a child tells us that he went to heaven in a “huge noodle”
Religious children see the religious figures they are familiar with
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Kim Clark’s first patient with a near death experience proves without a doubt that they are real.
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This woman learned that often religions can be a barrier to spiritual understandings as God loves us all.
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Children often draw their experiences better than they can describe them.
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This gentleman learned from his near-death experience that “death is just a body problem”.
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For too long the debate about near death experiences has focused on whether or not they are proof of life after death. We are here to live this life to its fullest. It is comforting to know that a loving light will enfold us at the point of death, whispering to us “job well done”, regardless of our trials and tribulations. As the old spiritual song goes “When (this light) appears, he will wipe all our tears and we will be forever changed”.
However, the true meaning of the near-death experience is what it teaches us about living. Here is a physician describing the most moving NDE of which I am aware. |
For more videos about NDEs - Click Here